Friday, September 6, 2013

Inclusive

Picture this: a church service where people from
different continents, ethnic backgrounds, and customs—all are together for the
purpose of worshipping the Lord. Everyone gets along. Everyone mixes easily.
The differences only make the members of the church more interesting—and more
interested in others. Visitors feel welcomed, and no one feels out of place.

Truthfully, this sounds like our church. Over the years,
the only peopled continent not represented in our midst has been Asia. Oh yes,
we’re in Spain, but let’s take last night for an example. There were people
from three continents, five different ethnic groups, and four nations. It was a
baptismal service, and the young man getting baptized had invited his
relatives, so we had four first-time visitors who are Spanish in nationality
but not in ethnicity. They are gypsies.

We have learned so much from the different people in our
church. Our Australian woman taught us Australian English terms for pick-up
trucks, parking lots, and more. Our Africans have shared about their different
customs and traditional beliefs. We live in a bi-cultural region, which is very
interesting, and our other Europeans and South Americans have also taught us so
much. The people in our church learn from each other. A lot of it isn’t
cultural, either. It’s things like patience, long-suffering, temperance,
praying for the brethren, loving and forgiving. We’re a family.

God is pleased
with inclusivity. He doesn’t reject anyone who comes to Him.

Here’s why I believe
God is inclusive:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

Jesus said, I am the living bread which came down from
heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world(John 6:51).

Then spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any
man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge
the world, but to save the world (John 12:46-47).

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21, also in
Romans 10:13).

I love this object lesson from God: Peter is on his housetop praying. He falls
into a trance and sees a vision of the heaven opened and a certain vessel
descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and
let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the
earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there
came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord;
for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake
unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou
common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven (Acts 10:11b-16).

Here’s Jewish Peter, who had never
eaten anything unclean. His response to the vision is perfectly normal. (Did he
think it was a test of his Jewishness?) He says, “No way would I eat those
things. They are unclean.” The vision is repeated three times, and each time,
the Lord says, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

By that third time, Peter
finally understood God’s message. It had nothing to do with eating. It had to
do with people, people whose hearts God had cleansed, people that God would
cleanse in the future. In fact, his first opportunity to put his newly learned
knowledge into practice is downstairs at that very minute. Cornelius’
messengers are at the door.

Cornelius is a Gentile, and
Peter travels to his home in Caesarea. Cornelius and all the people in his
house are eager to hear Peter speak. Peter tells them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to
keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common orunclean. Then Peter opened his mouth,
and said, Of a truth I perceive that God
is norespecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and
workethrighteousness, is accepted
with him (Acts 10:28, 34-35).

Peter preaches the good news of
Jesus to Cornelius’ household. While he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell
on them. It was so obvious that these Gentiles had believed in Jesus that the
Jewish people with Peter were astonished. Peter baptized the new converts and
later defended to the Jews his decision to preach to Gentiles.

God is inclusive.

It doesn’t matter about your
background; He loves you. He died for you.

If you already know Jesus
Christ personally, make sure that you don’t value one people group more than
another. That you don’t shun anyone because of his ethnicity, religion, or
outward appearance. That you don’t think you’re better than anyone else—because
you’re not. That you actually put others before yourself. That you become
selfless, like Jesus.

Let others’ differences be
interesting to you. Embrace them as people. Love them like God loves them.

In heaven, we’ll be with people
from every nation, language, and background—for eternity.

Hi and welcome to In the Way! I explore many subjects, striving always to present them from a biblical viewpoint. Feel free to browse the tabs at the top for general categories. If you don't see what you're looking for, use the search button below. I'm a pastor's wife, mother of two, grandma, teacher, author, and blogger. I live in a quaint little village in the beautiful Basque region of northern Spain.

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Lou Ann is a young-thinking grandma with an infectious laugh. She rejoices in nature and other beautiful things--including people! She's an avid writer and practices several other artistic expressions, like singing when no one's listening, calligraphy, photography, and even "serious art." Lou Ann loves her Lord Jesus Christ, family, and her church.